Jalen Jackson, a 23-year-old man, has been accused of robbing an Amazon driver at gunpoint and leading officers on a high-speed chase that resulted in the death of a 70-year-old motorist on I-90. The incident took place on Wednesday in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Newly-released body camera footage captured the moment when Cleveland Heights police apprehended Jackson after the chase. He now faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, tampering with evidence, discharging a firearm, weapons under disability, and a drug charge. Jackson’s bond has been set at $1 million, and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for December 13.
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The events unfolded when Jackson allegedly robbed an Amazon driver at gunpoint before stealing the driver’s van. The driver immediately notified the police, leading to a pursuit. During the chase, shots were fired, and a helicopter from the Cleveland Division of Police joined in to assist. The pursuit eventually moved onto I-90, where the van drove into oncoming traffic.
The body camera footage, which was released on Friday, showed that the pursuit lasted at least 20 minutes, with speeds reaching up to 100 miles per hour. At one point, the van veered into eastbound lanes, resulting in a head-on collision with a car. The driver of the car, identified as 70-year-old Dr. Curtis Birchall from Akron, was killed in the crash.
After apprehending Jackson, officers checked on the injured suspect and discovered that he had a broken leg. The video also raised questions about whether the pursuing officers followed department policy, given the high-risk nature of the chase.
Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren and Police Chief Chris Britton declined to comment on whether the pursuit adhered to department policy, stating that a thorough review would be conducted. They emphasized the importance of not jumping to conclusions and assured the public that the findings of the review would be made public.
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The tragic incident has prompted discussions about the risks associated with high-speed pursuits and the need for strict adherence to pursuit policies to prevent harm to innocent citizens, law enforcement officers, and suspects.
